Ulster

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Ulster assistant coach Dan Soper says Zac Ward has the potential to be a "devastating" weapon for the club but admits he is on a "steep learning curve" as he tries to establish himself as a winger in the 15s game.

Ward made his first Ulster appearance in Saturday's 26-19 friendly win over Benetton in Belfast.

The 25-year-old - the son of former Ulster and Ireland flanker Andy Ward - joined Ulster on a trial basis earlier this summer after starring for the Ireland Sevens at the Paris Olympics.

"You get the ball in his hands and he makes things happen," said Soper.

"Those things he did in sevens when he was on the edge of the pitch, if we can create opportunities like that for him, he could be really devastating but it's certainly so foreign to him in terms of he played all his 15s rugby in the back row and now he's thinking about backfield coverage and catching high balls."

Soper, who said Ulster have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday's friendly away to Exeter Chiefs (17:00 BST), added: "The great thing has been, and it comes from the sevens environment, he's been really good at going after those extras and finding other bits and pieces he needs to do the extra training on.

"He's making progress but it's a tough transition, what's he's doing."

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy is expecting Werner Kok to make his debut for the province in this weekend's friendly away to Exeter Chiefs.

The South African back-three player signed from the Sharks this summer but was not involved in last weekend's 26-19 pre-season win over Benetton in Belfast.

In what is the final tune-up before Ulster's URC season begins against champions Glasgow on 21 September, Kok should feature at Sandy Park.

"We're hoping Werner will go," said Murphy.

"He picked up a very slight calf injury that kept him out of this game, it would have been crazy to play him.

"He should make next week."

Murphy will bring in the region of 27 players to Exeter, although those that toured South Africa with Ireland in the summer will again not be involved.

Having come off the bench against Benetton, Irish Olympian Zac Ward, who is on trial with Ulster, will get another chance to impress.

Having starred at the Paris Games in sevens, Ward has been transitioning back into 15s rugby while also learning a new position.

"He's literally here two weeks," reminded Murphy.

"He's had five training sessions. He was a back-row forward when he went to sevens, now he's on the wing. It's so different.

"Over the next couple of months, we'll be trying to upskill him and get him to a place where he feels comfortable on the wing."

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Summer arrival Aidan Morgan will make his Ulster debut in Saturday's opening pre-season friendly against Benetton at Kingspan Stadium.

Fly-half Morgan, 23, will partner Nathan Doak in the half-backs with Ireland Sevens player Zac Ward named on the bench as he continues his trial with the Irish province.

Ulster's other major summer acquisition wing Werner Kok, who arrived from the Sharks, will not feature in Saturday's game.

James McNabney is named in the back row following his promotion from the Ulster Academy.

The bench includes James Humphreys and Scott Wilson, who also have moved up from the province's academy squad.

Mike Lowry will captain the side from full-back with Academy player Rory Telfer, who represented Ireland at this summer's Under-20 World Cup, and Aaron Sexton occupying the wing berths and Jude Postlethwaite and Stewart Moore selected at centre.

Ulster's front row includes another trialist Corrie Barrett who will pack down with Eric O'Sullivan and John Andrew.

Harry Sheridan will partner Kieran Treadwell in the second row with McNabney joined by Sean Reffell and David McCann in the back row.

Ulster: Lowry; Telfer, Moore, Postlethwaite, Sexton; Morgan, Doak; O'Sullivan, Andrew, Barrett; Sheridan, Treadwell; McNabney, Reffell, McCann.

Replacements: McCormick, Reid, Wilson, A O'Connor, Marcus Rea, McKee, Humphreys, Carson, Walker, Irvine, McKillop, Brigg, Shanahan, Ward, Murphy.

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Ulster will play their festive interprovincials against Munster and Connacht on 20 and 28 December respectively.

When the United Rugby Championship released their fixture list in May, the traditional Christmas derbies had been listed without dates or kick-off times.

Leinster will host Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on 21 December before Leo Cullen's men travel to Thomond Park to face Munster on 27 December.

In another change, Ulster's away game against the Lions in Johannesburg on 28 September will now kick off at 11:55 BST.

URC festive interprovincials

20 December: Ulster vs Munster, 19:35 BST

21 December: Leinster vs Connacht, 17:30 BST

27 December: Munster vs Leinster, 19:35 BST

28 December: Connacht vs Ulster, 19:35 BST

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Ulster have confirmed that Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward will join the province's senior men's squad for an "extended trial" until the autumn international window.

Ballynahinch native Ward, 25, scored four tries for the Ireland Sevens side at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris, helping them finish sixth.

Ward's displays in the sevens code saw him named the men's sevens players' player of the year award at the Rugby Players Ireland awards in Dublin earlier this year.

“It’s great to be welcoming Zac into the squad, as we ramp up preparations for the new season," said Ulster head of rugby operations and recruitment Bryn Cunningham.

"Zac is coming off the back of a successful period playing with the national Sevens set-up, and we feel this is a good opportunity for him to bring his skills and qualities into the group in the weeks ahead.”

Ulster, who are preparing for their first full season under head coach Richie Murphy, have also signed former New Zealand Under-20 fly-half Aidan Morgan and South African wing Werner Kok during the off-season.

Ulster face Benetton and Exeter in pre-season friendlies before beginning their 2024-25 United Rugby Championship season at home to holders Glasgow on 21 September.

Ulster trailed 25-11 in the final ten minutes of their Women's Interprovincial Championship clash with Connacht at Kingspan Stadium but late tries from India Daley and Stacey Sloan, both converted by Vicky Irwin, rescued a draw.

Read more.

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Ulster Rugby fly-half Abby Moyles praised John Cooney for delivering a "very good kicking session" ahead of their second Women's Interprovincial fixture against Connacht on Saturday.

Both Moyles and Vicky Irwin took part in the session with scrum-half Cooney, who has won 11 caps for Ireland in preparation for the game which is live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website.

"We were doing a bit of kicking with him and he honed in on a few details around ball placement, and those little details make a big difference, so it was nice to have him there and it was a very good session," she told BBC Sport NI.

Moyles missed the opening game, a 29-22 defeat by Munster in Cork last weekend, but she insists that confidence is high in the group despite the loss.

"This year we have a drive as a team, we know we are good enough to take on anyone and win.

"I think the performance on Saturday shows that, there was one try in it, it was close," she explained.

"Last year we could see that we were building, and it was brilliant to get the win at the end [a 36-14 victory against Connacht in their last game] and from last year we realised it is in us to do it, so we don't go out there being afraid."

Ulster winger Megan Edwards was a latecomer to the game but soon found a home in "extremely inclusive" sport of rugby.

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Ulster wing Megan Edwards says the province might "surprise a few people" as they prepare for their opening Women's Interprovincial fixture against Munster in Cork on Saturday.

Murray Houston's side come into this season's championship off the back of ending an 11-year wait for an Interpro victory with an impressive 36-14 triumph over Connacht in last year's third/fourth-place play-off.

Now with a new confidence and the experience of winning, 33-year-old Edwards feels her side have the "talent" to be competitive in the series.

"We're under no illusions that it's going to be a tough game," Edwards told BBC Sport NI.

"It is Munster, they have won the championships before but I think we might throw in a few surprises.

"The talent within the Ulster squad is there and we've been building and building for a number of years now, it's about showcasing that talent on game day and our goal is to build on the win in Cork last season."

Women's Interpros - Fixtures and coverage details

10 August

• Munster v Ulster (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

• Leinster v Connacht (16:45 BST)

17 August

• Ulster v Connacht (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

• Munster v Leinster (16:45 BST)

24 August

• Connacht v Munster (14:30 BST)

• Ulster v Leinster (16:45 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

31 August

• Third/fourth play-off (14:30 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website

• Final (16:45 BST) - live on BBC iPlayer & BBC Sport website